NOTES

FORTHCOMING ISSUES

ISSUE (QUARTER)	Release Date
December 2012	4 March 2013
March 2013	3 June 2013
June 2013	2 September 2013
September 2013	2 December 2013

CHANGES TO THIS ISSUE

There are no changes to this issue.


INQUIRIES

For further information about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070 or Mark Busby on Sydney (02) 9268 4533.


SUMMARY COMMENTARY


MINERAL EXPLORATION (OTHER THAN FOR PETROLEUM)


TOTAL EXPENDITURE

The trend estimate for total mineral exploration expenditure fell 6.0% (or -$58.9m) to $921.4m in the September quarter 2012. The largest contributor to the fall in the trend estimate this quarter was Western Australia (down 6.5% or -$35.5m). The current quarter estimate is 1.1% lower than the September quarter 2011 estimate.

The seasonally adjusted estimate for mineral exploration expenditure fell 14.7% (or -$146.9m) to $855.4m in the September quarter 2012. The largest contributor to the fall this quarter was Western Australia (down 19.0% or -$108.7m).

In original terms, mineral exploration expenditure fell 15.7% (or -$166.4m) to $894.7m in the September quarter 2012. Exploration on areas of new deposits fell 15.3% (or -$54.7m) and expenditure on areas of existing deposits fell 15.9% (or -$111.7m).

In original terms, the largest fall by minerals sought came from expenditure on iron ore exploration (down 16.6% or -$55.7m). The next largest fall came from expenditure on coal exploration (down 19.4% or -$41.1m).

METRES DRILLED

The trend estimate for metres drilled fell 5.1% in the September quarter 2012. The current quarter estimate is 7.8% lower than the September quarter 2011 estimate.

The seasonally adjusted estimate for metres drilled fell 12.6% in the September quarter 2012.

In original terms, metres drilled fell 10.3%. Drilling in areas of new deposits fell 12.0% and drilling in areas of existing deposits fell 9.3%.

PETROLEUM EXPLORATION


TOTAL EXPENDITURE

The trend estimate for total petroleum exploration expenditure rose 15.0% (or $131.0m) to $1002.7m in the September quarter 2012. Exploration expenditure on production leases rose 26.0% (or $52.3m), while exploration expenditure on all other areas rose 10.3% (or $69.4m).

The seasonally adjusted estimate for total petroleum exploration expenditure rose 26.1% (or $227.5m) to $1100.4m in the September quarter 2012. Exploration expenditure on production leases rose 18.8% (or $42.4m) and exploration expenditure on all other areas rose 28.6% (or $185.1m).

The largest contributor to the rise in the trend estimate was Western Australia (up 15.5% or $90.6m) while the largest contributor to the rise in the seasonally adjusted estimate was Western Australia (up 34.6% or $198.2m).

ONSHORE

The trend estimate for onshore petroleum exploration expenditure rose 6.9% (or $16.2m) to $249.3m in the September quarter 2012. Expenditure on drilling fell 0.9% (or -$1.4m), while other onshore petroleum exploration expenditure rose 18.6% (or $15.6m).

The seasonally adjusted estimate for onshore petroleum exploration expenditure rose 9.7% (or $22.9m) to $260.1m in the September quarter 2012. Expenditure on drilling rose 0.5% (or $0.8m), while other onshore petroleum exploration rose 25.3% (or $22.1m).

OFFSHORE

The trend estimate for offshore petroleum exploration expenditure rose 17.0% (or $108.9m) to $747.8m in the September quarter 2012. Expenditure on drilling rose 20.1% (or $92.3m), while other offshore petroleum exploration expenditure rose 9.2% (or $16.6m).

The seasonally adjusted estimate for offshore petroleum exploration expenditure rose 32.2% (or $204.6m) to $840.3m in the September quarter 2012. Expenditure on drilling rose 33.9% (or $159.2m), while other offshore petroleum exploration expenditure rose 27.3% (or $45.4m).